The voice is considered the most important genre and instrument in the history of music. Its development can be examined as early as the 13th century, from secular sacred music, to Renaissance motets, to early Baroque oratorios, to classical opera, to German lied, to jazz music in America. Vocal music is probably considered the oldest and youngest musical form. Music dating back to the medieval period is still sung today alongside new popular musical genres. Vocal music is believed to dominate the early part of history considering it began with sacred music. During this period the Church played a major role in society as a whole. Since the society was based on the church, most music was therefore sacred. This meant that the text was based on the Bible and was primarily centered on Christ. Lyrics were another reason why vocal music was much more important because you could actually know what was being interpreted through the music. The use of tools was not very common during the Middle Ages. However, they used some instruments such as the lyre, kithara and aulos. Singing was part of everyone's daily life in the medieval period. Music was sung eight hours a day to prepare for mass, called Gregorian chant. Gregorian chant is monophonic religious music set primarily to Latin text intended for use in the Roman Catholic Church. This song was also considered "plain song" because it was mostly sung in unison, and almost always without accompaniment or instruments. The most important song that was sung was the one for Mass. This was the most important religious service that was performed every day in the monastery. The......middle of the paper......Was." Georgia Regents University, n.d. Web.Ongaro, Giulio Maria., and David Brinkman. Renaissance Music. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2003. Print. Perkins, Leeman L. Music in the Age of the Renaissance New York, NY: W. W. Norton &, 1999. Print.Stein, Jack M. “Problems and Combination of Poetry and Music in the German Lied from Gluck to Hugo Wolf,” Cambridge. Mass: Harvard UP, 14+.Wright, Craig M. and Bryan R. Simms “Music in the Monastery and Western Civilization.” CA: Thomson/Schirmer, 2006. 25+.Wright, Craig M. and Bryan R. Simms Music. in Western Civilization Vol. 1. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Schirmer, 2006.McClellan, Lawrence. The Later Swing Era, 1942-1955 Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. Print.Buelow, George J. A History of Baroque Music, IN: Indiana UP, 2004. Print.